Alpha's STOLEN Mate (by Abigail Hayes) novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Elowen

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Pain. Overwhelming, consuming pain.

I lay in human form on the crystalline floor, feeling my life force draining away like water through cupped hands. This was different from before-different from any injury I’d ever sustained. I could feel it in my bones, in my soul. This was the kind of wound you didn’t recover

from.

I’m dying. Actually dying this time.

“What the FUCK?!” Evelyn’s scream cut through my fading consciousness. She scrambled toward me, hands already glowing with healing

magic.

“Evelyn!” I choked out, blood filling my mouth. “The gemstone! Destroy it! NOW!”

She hesitated for only a heartbeat, then understanding flashed across her face. She spun toward the gemstone, arm outstretched-

The Lycan moved with inhuman speed. One moment Evelyn was reaching for our salvation; the next, Kaius’s massive form had intercepted her. His jaws closed around the gemstone, plucking it from its pedestal like a dog retrieving a toy.

Then his tail swept out in a devastating arc, catching Evelyn across the torso and launching her through the air. She crashed beside me with a sickening thud, the impact driving the air from her lungs.

*KAIUS!” she screamed, fury and disbelief mixing in equal measure. “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!”

Morgath’s laugh echoed through the air as she materialized from the shadows. “Oh, how tragic! You came so close! Just a few more seconds and you might have actually succeeded!”

She approached the Lycan-approached Kaius-and their eyes met. His monstrous form, so wild and feral moments ago, suddenly… calmed. The aggressive posture softened. His ears tilted forward in an almost submissive gesture.

Like a dog recognizing its master.

He padded over to Morgath on all fours and gently deposited the gemstone at her feet, then sat back on his haunches, waiting for

approval.

‘Good boy,” Morgath cooed, stroking his massive head.

No. No, this can’t be—

“How?” Evelyn gasped beside me. ‘He-he was fighting with us! He killed those golden wolves! How did you-*

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Chapter 198

“His bloodline is identical to his father’s,” Morgath explained, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “Which means the spell I designed specifically for Aldric works perfectly on him as well.” She tilted her masked face toward us. “You’ve been caught in my trap since the moment you entered this realm. Every step, every choice-all according to my design.”

She made a playful gesture with her fingers-the kind you’d use to call a pet.

The Lycan bounded over to where Evelyn and I lay broken and helpless.

“Kaius,” I forced the words out through bloody lips. “Please. You know who you are. You’re not-you’re not a pet. You’re a King. You’re-

His red eyes stared down at me, utterly blank. No recognition. No love. Nothing human remained in that gaze.

“The beast nature is innate to all of you,” Morgath said conversationally. “I simply helped him embrace it. Stripped away all that troublesome humanity.” She knelt beside us. “Did you really think you could call him back with words?”

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Before I could try again, Kaius’s massive paw came down on my head, pressing my face into the crystal floor. He let out a triumphant

howl-a sound of pure, mindless joy.

“GET OFF HER!” Evelyn lunged forward, her fist connecting with Kaius’s back.

P

She immediately recoiled, cradling her hand and cursing. “God! It’s like hitting solid steel! What is he made of?!”

The Lycan turned his attention to her, irritation flickering in those crimson eyes. His claws extended toward her throat, moving to snap

her neck like a twig-

I shifted. My white wolf form erupted despite my catastrophic injuries, and I threw myself between them. My body intercepted his blow, and his claws tore through me instead. A fresh wound opened across my chest, adding to the collection.

I howled in agony.

Kaius didn’t even pause. Didn’t hesitate. He simply adjusted his angle to finish what he’d started—

“STOP!”

Morgath’s command was sharp, absolute.

The Lycan froze mid-strike.

“Don’t damage my White Wolf, you idiot!” Morgath snapped. “I haven’t transformed her into my pet yet! She’s far too valuable to waste!” She pointed at the Lycan like scolding a misbehaving dog. “Go! Back! Now!”

Kaius immediately retreated, slinking back to Morgath’s side with his head lowered in submission.

She stroked his fur almost affectionately. “Poor thing. I know you want to play. You’ve been such a good boy. Her hand shifted, pointing

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Chapter 198

at Evelyn. “Here-you can have the witch. She’s worthless to me. Kill her however you like.”

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Evelyn’s face went pale. ‘Oh God. Elowen, I TOLD you today was a bad day for this! I should have trusted my instincts!” She laughed- actually laughed, high and slightly hysterical. “Fuck! I’m going to die before you! If you somehow survive this nightmare, you better buildi me the most elaborate memorial our pack has ever seen! With a plaque that says: ‘Here lies Evelyn, the selfless and brilliant witch who

sacrificed herself to bring peace-“”

Shut up. Shut up, you’re not dying here.

As Kaius lunged toward her, I summoned the absolute last dregs of my power. Lightning crackled around me-not the devastating bolts I could normally command, but a weak, flickering thing. Barely enough to tear open a rift.

But it was enough.

The portal split reality behind Evelyn, crackling with unstable energy.

“What-” she started.

I didn’t give her time to finish. My tail whipped out, catching her in the ribs and shoving her backward through the portal.

“ELOWEN, NO-!”

The rift sealed itself with a sound like shattering glass.

She was gone. Safe. That was what mattered.

I tried to follow-tried to drag my broken body toward where the portal had been-

Kaius’s claws closed around my tail and pulled. My body left the ground, then slammed back down with devastating force. Every bone in my body screamed in protest. I couldn’t even whimper anymore.

The rift was gone. I’d used the last of my strength to save Evelyn, and now there was nothing left. No escape. No hope.

“How touching!” Morgath’s voice was sickeningly sweet. “Using your final moments of consciousness to save your friend. Such noble sacrifice!” She walked closer, each footstep echoing on the crystal floor. “But it was pointless, really. In a few minutes, you won’t even remember who she was. You’ll forget your pack, your friends, your precious mate-”

She gestured, and Kaius moved to stand over me, his massive form blocking out the violet sky.

“Come, White Wolf. Let me sever that troublesome mate bond. Let me strip away everything human and free the beast within. You’ll be my finest treasure. My most prized pet.”

My eyes drifted closed. I was so tired. So broken.

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Chapter 198

Kaius. Frost. Scarlett. Evelyn.

Faces flickered through my mind like pages of a book flipping closed. All the moments of joy and rage and love and loss. The pack I’d

built. The battles I’d fought. The future I’d dreamed of-

All the dreams I’ll never see fulfilled. All the promises I’ll never keep.

Farewell, I thought, consciousness slipping away like sand through fingers. Farewell to the life I never got to finish living.

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Alpha’s STOLEN Mate